Post implanting method and vehicular apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A port hole boring auger and a drop weight hammer are mounted on the periphery of a carriage a fixed distance apart. The carriage is rotatably and slidably mounted on a transport vehicle adapted to be driven along a surveyed post line by an operator seated at a control console including a plurality of control valves allowing the operator to also position and operate the auger and hammer. The carriage may be rotated to position the auger and hammer laterally of the transport vehicle such that the vertical center lines of the auger and hammer define a substantially vertical plane which extends generally in the direction of transport vehicle movement along the surveyed line. The hole boring auger is centered on a post position mark on said line such that the hammer is substantially centered over a previously bored hole at an adjacent post position mark. A hole is bored at the post position mark while at substantially the same time a post is hammered in place in the previously bored hole. The transport vehicle is moved ahead so that the auger is centered over the next adjacent post position mark and the hole boring and post implanting is repeated. A method of implanting posts along a surveyed line including the steps of boring a post hole at one post position mark on said line and implanting a post in a previously bored hole at a rearwardly adjacent post position mark on said line with a single positioning of said transport vehicle.

United States Patent Alexander [54] POST IMPLANTING METHOD AND VEHICULAR APPARATUS THEREFOR [72] Inventor: James M. Alexander, Kent, Wash.

[73] Assignee: Stillwell-Gerard Construction Co.,

Bellevue, Wash.

[22] Filed: March 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 123,532

521 US. Cl. ..61/53.s, 173/1, 173/27, 173/46, 173/52 511 1111. (:1. ..E02d 7/02,E21c 11/02 [58] Field of Search ..6l/63, 53.5; 173/28, 43, 45, 173/46, 52, 1

Primary Examiner-Emest R. Purser Attorney-Graybeal, Cole & Barnard [57] ABSTRACT A port hole boring auger and a drop weight hammer are mounted on the periphery of a carriage a fixed 1451 Oct. 10, 1972 distance apart. The carriage is rotatably and slidably mounted on a transport vehicle adapted to be driven along a surveyed post line by an operator seated at a control console including a plurality of control valves allowing the operator to also position and operate the auger and hammer. The carriage may be rotated to position the auger and hammer laterally of the transport vehicle such that the vertical center lines of the auger and hammer define a substantially vertical plane which extends generally in the direction of transport vehicle movement along the surveyed line. The hole boring auger is centered on a post position mark on said line such that the hammer is substantially centered over a previously bored hole at an adjacent post position mark. A hole is bored at the post position mark while at substantially the same time a post is hammered in place in the previously bored hole. The transport vehicle is moved ahead so that the auger is centered over the next adjacent post position mark and the hole boring and post implanting is repeated.

A method of implanting posts along a surveyed line including the steps of boring a post hole at one post position mark on said line and implanting a post in a previously bored hole at a rearwardly adjacent post position mark on said line with a single positioning of said transport vehicle.

20 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED EI 10 191 3.696; 625

' sum 2 UF 4 INVENTOR. JAMES M. 141 E/Vl/VDEF ATTORNEYS POST IMPLANTING METHOD AND VEI-IICULAR APPARATUS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accurately implanting posts in a line, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus whereby post implanting operations may be performed by an operator and a minimal work crew at two adjacent post positions at substantially the same time with a single movement of the apparatus transport vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art One presently used method of setting posts, such as guardrail posts, on a surveyed line comprises drilling a hole for the post by use of a truck mounted auger, followed by manual placement of a post in the hole. A truck mounted drop weight hammer is then used to drive the post firmly into the hole. One disadvantage of this technique is the requirement of multiple transport vehicles and vehicle operators. Additionally, it has been shown by actual practice that it is difficult to accurately place posts when the driving hammer is solely operator centered with respect to the hole.

US. Pat. No. 3,548,604 discloses a method and apparatus for implanting posts wherein an auger and a hammer are mounted on a carriage adapted to move laterally with respect to the transport vehicle such that the vertical center lines of the auger and hammer lie in a vertical plane which extends in the direction of carriage movement. The auger and hammer may be consecutively used to first bore a hole and then hammer a post downwardly therein.

US. Pat. No. 3,447,613 discloses a combined earth boring and post driving apparatus wherein the auger is adapted to be moved by hydraulic means laterally to the transport vehicle between a retracted position during post hammering and a forward position during hole boring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a transport vehicle having a rotatable carriage mounted thereon. A vertical auger and a vertical drop hammer are mounted on the periphery of the carriage and are spaced a fixed distance equal to the desired distance between the posts to be implanted. The carriage is rotated such that the auger and the power hammer extend laterally outwardly from the transport vehicle such that their vertical center lines define a plane substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the transport vehicle along the surveyed line on which the posts are to be implanted. The transport vehicle is positioned such that the auger point is centered on a position mark for a post thereby causing the power hammer to be longitudinally positioned over a previously bored hole. The power hammer may, if necessary, be additionally positioned by laterally adjustable hydraulic means to center the power hammer over the previously bored hole. A hole is bored by the auger while at substantially the same time a post is disposed in the previously bored hole and hammered downwardly therein. The operator, who is seated at a control console from which he is able both to position and operate the auger and power hammer, as well as control the movement of the transport vehicle, then drives the transport vehicle ahead to position the auger over the next adjacent post position mark such that the power hammer is over the newly bored hole and the hole boring and post implantation is repeated.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a method and apparatus for boring a hole and implanting a post at adjacent points on a line with a single positioning of the transport vehicle.

Another object is to provide an apparatus having an earth boring means and a power hammer means spacedly mounted thereon with respect to said line.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus wherein the earth boring means and the power hammer means are spaced a distance substantially equal to the distance between the posts after implantation.

One more object is to provide a method and apparatus wherein the earth boring means and the power hammer means are laterally adjustable with respect to each other and the line.

An additional object is to provide a method and apparatus wherein the placement of the earth boring means in the newly bored hole acts to anchor the power hammer means during both vertical and horizontal movement.

, Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a left side elevation view of a typical apparatus made according to the present invention, including a transport vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a typical apparatus made according to the instant invention, the carriage being rotated on the transport vehicle to the working position.

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation view taken along lines 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the typical apparatus of FIG. 3 including a surveyed post position line.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a typical power hammer means made according to the instant invention.

FIGS. 7-11 are a series of schematic partial side elevation views showing a typical manner of operation of the instant invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a typical hydraulic control console and system for an apparatus made according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of a post implanting apparatus 10 made according to the instant invention, and including a vertical auger 12 and a drop weight hammer 14 mounted on a rotatable and laterally adjustable carriage 16 is disclosed. Carriage 16 is mounted, by means to be described more completely hereafter, on the bed 18 of a transport vehicle or truck 20. Carriage l6 mounts internal combustion engine 22 which powers hydraulic pump unit 24 which drives drop hammer 14, as well as the hydraulic cylinders and pistons employed to position the auger and drop hammer and the hydraulic gear motor, steering mechanism and brakes by which the transport vehicle itself is moved, and pump unit 25 which drives auger 12. Carriage 16 additionally mounts an operators platform 26 including seat 28 and control console 30 (FIG. 12) which includes controls for both operating and positioning the auger and power hammer, as well as driving the transport vehicle. counterbalance weight 32 is mounted on the ends of rotatable beams 68 opposite auger 12 and power hammer 14 to counterbalance the weight of these tools when they are extended laterally outward from the vehicle during post implanting operations. Counterbalance 32 tends to maintain the bed 18 of truck 20 in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the rear axles 19 of transport vehicle 20 thereby tending to minimize the corrective tilting of the masts of the auger and power hammer needed to maintain them substantially vertical during operation.

Hydraulic cylinders and pistons 34 and 36 are pivotally connected between carriage l6 and the masts of power hammer 14 and earth boring auger 12 respectively, and are adapted to pivot the masts in the direction generally indicated by arrows 38 (FIG. 1). Referring also to FIG. 4, power hammer guide column 100 rotates about pin 40 which extends through holes in ears 42 extending outwardly from the guide column and collar 44 mounted on one end of differential slide cylinder 46. Cylinder and piston 34 is also connected at its lower end to differential slide cylinder 46 at pivotal connection point 48, while its upper end is connected to guide column 100 at pivotal connection 50 (FIG. 1). Although not illustrated in the drawings, guide column 100 is carried on transport vehicle 20 in a substantially horizontal position between jobs and when passing beneath overhead obstructions such as bridges or wires. After reaching a work site, cylinder and piston 34 is actuated to raise the tower to a substantially vertical position. Guide column 100 may be raised to the vertical position either before (FIGS. 1 and 2) or after carriage 16 is rotated to the side working position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Power hammer guide column 100 may be constructed such that it may telescope within itself to allow the power hammer to be operated with a shorter drop stroke under low overhead conditions.

Auger tower 132 is also carried between work sites and under low clearance areas in the substantially horizontal position. Cylinder and piston 36 which is pivotally mounted on carriage 16 at its lower end by means of connection 52 (FIG. 1), and connected at its upper end to auger tower 132 at connection 53, is also adapted to both raise the auger tower and adjust its vertical orientation during and prior to operation. As is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, when cylinder and piston 36 is operated the earth boring auger tower 132 rotates at rotary connecting joints 54 through which the auger bit drive train runs.

Auger tower 132 and power hammer guide column 100 are also adapted to be pivoted, by hydraulic cylinders and pistons 60 and 56 respectively, in directions perpendicular to the auger tower and hammer guide column movement caused by cylinders and pistons 36 and 34. FIG. best illustrates the placement of hydraulic cylinders and pistons 56 and 60, and arrows 58 and 62 indicate the directions these cylinders and pistons pivot power hammer guide column 100 and auger tower 132. Thus, it will be understood, that both the power hammer guide column and the earth boring auger tower are pivotal both longitudinally and laterally with respect to the path of travel of transport vehicle 20 along surveyed line 64. This pivotal mobility allows both the hammer guide column and the auger tower to be positioned vertically prior to operation to implant guardrail posts, for example, notwithstanding the slope of the highway roadbed or the rising or falling away of the shoulder of the roadbed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that a pair of parallel I-beams 68 are spacedly mounted for rotation on raised circular platform 76 on transport vehicle bed 18. Although not shown in the drawings, it will be understood that parallel beams 68 are interconnected by cross-bracing which in turn is rotatably pinned to the center of platform 76 such that the beams 68 rotate thereabout. Each beam 68 includes rollers 66 which are adapted to run around a track 74 on the top periphery of platform 76 to provide peripheral support for the carriage. Beams 68 are the main support beams for carriage l6 and are adapted to be rotated on the transport vehicle bed by means of hydraulic motor 70 (FIG. 3) which includes a toothed sprocket member adapted to engage and run on chain 72 disposed about the periphery of raised circular platform 76. Chain 72 is pinned to platform 76 by means of clamp 73 located at the rear of the platform.

Carriage 16 includes a pair of beams 78 slidably mounted to move longitudinally on beams 68, and held thereagainst by means of retainers 80. Beams 78 are moved with respect to beams 68 by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders and pistons 82 which are fixedly connected at one end to beams 68 by means of upstanding ears 84 and connected at their opposite ends to beams 78 by means of pin joints 86. Referring particularly to FIG. 4, it will be seen that expansion of cylinders and pistons 82 moves beams 78 laterally outward with respect to beams 68, and thus the earth boring auger and drop hammer are moved Laterally outward with respect to the transport vehicle bed. In this manner, the auger and hammer may be generally aligned on surveyed line 64 (FIG. 3) after the transport vehicle has been driven adjacent the surveyed line.

As has been described briefly above, the power hammer structure 14 is mounted on the end of differential slide cylinder 46 (FIG. 4) which is laterally movable with respect to carriage l6 and thus the earth boring auger 12 mounted thereon, by means of hydraulic cylinder and piston 88. Cylinder and piston 88 is fixedly connected to the carriage at one end by means of pin connection 90 and to differential slide cylinder 46 at its other end by means of pin connection 92. Sleeves 94 and 96 through which cylinder 46 slides are mounted on beam 78.

The structure and operation of the power hammer itself is best described with reference to FIG. 6. Power hammer 14 includes a weight or slug 98 adapted to be raised and dropped within rectangular guide column 100 by means of cable 102 connected to one end thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, a slug having an 8 inch square cross section, 8 feet long and weighing 1,740 pounds has been used satisfactorily.

Cable 102 runs from the end of slug 98 up and over pulleys 104 mounted at the top of telescoping tower 106. Slug 98 is raised and dropped within rectangular guide column 100 by means of the hydraulically movable pulley arrangement disclosed in FIG. 6. Cable 102 runs down tower 106 through guide pulley .108 and then around the first of a set of three pulleys 110 mounted on common axle 112 in movable box 114. Cable 102 then runs around the first of a set of two pulleys 116 mounted on axle 118 which is, in turn, rotatably mounted in upstanding ears 120. As shown, cable 102 runs around the remaining pulleys and is then anchored to fitting 120. Piston 122, on the end of which box 114 is mounted, is adapted to reciprocate within cooperating cylinder 124 to raise and drop slug 98. The illustrated arrangement provides a 6 to 1 length advantage such that extension of piston rod 122 on which box 114 is mounted out of cylinder 124 a given distance moves slug 98 upwardly a distance equal to six times the distance of movement of box 114. During normal operation, power hammer 14 works on an 8 to foot slug drop. For example, if piston 122 moves outward from cylinder 124 1.5 feet, slug 98 is moved upwardly approximately 9 feet. It will be understood that rapid retraction of piston rod 122 into cylinder 124, such as by dumping or venting the hydraulic fluid therein back to the hydraulic fluid reservoir associated with pump 24, allows slug 98 to fall freely through rectangular guide column 100 to hammer a post disposed within the guide column downwardly into the ground, as will be described more completely hereafter.

Referring additionally to FIG. 5, a sleeve 126 is shown connected to the bottom of rectangular guide column 100 at sleeve splice connection 128. This connection may be made by conventional nuts and bolts or other detachable means. Where ground conditions require, sleeve 126 is positioned in the previously augered post hole 140 to prevent the sides of the hole from collapsing prior to positioning the post therein. Rectangular. guide column 100, and sleeve 126 when connected thereto, are moved vertically by means of hydraulic cylinders and pistons 130 disposed on opposite sides of the guide column 100. In poorly graded earth, i.e. earth comprised only of particulate material of substantially the same diameter, for example, such that the walls of an augered hole tend to collapse readily, the sleeve 126 is hydraulically lowered into the ground to the bottom of hole 140. Slug 98 is then raised and dropped through sleeve extension 126 to loosen and move the dirt from below the bottom of the sleeve. Substantially simultaneously with the dropping of slug 98, sleeve 126 is moved downwardly by the operator until sleeve splice connection 128 is substantially at ground level. In use, sleeves up to 4 feet long or longer have been used satisfactorily depending on ground conditions and the consequent depth to which the post must be hammered to be firmly implanted.

Earth boring auger 12 is of the hydraulic drive type and includes tower 132, drive box 134 and the helical boring tool or bit 136 mounted on shaft 137 which is hydraulically moved upwardly or downwardly in auger tower 132 by the operator. In one embodiment of the invention a Model 330 Texoma earth auger manufactured by J. W. Murphy Industries has been used satisfactorily. Bit 136 is removable and thus bits of various sizes may be used. In normal operation, such as during implantation of conventionally sized 8 inch X 8 inch cross-sectioned guardrail posts in average graded ground, for example, a 9 inch diameter bit is used. In good ground, when it is not necessary to sleeve the hole, the comers of the. posts, which have a cross-sectional diagonal of approximately 10.7 inches, tend to scrape the earth therebelow from the sides of the augered hole causing it to fall to the bottom of the hole to give the post a solid base. It will be understood that in very well graded ground an auger having a slightly smaller than normal cross section may be used, while in loose, marble-like ground larger augers up to 12 inches in diameter may be necessary. Power hammer 14 is capable of driving a post directly into the ground, but

pre-boring with auger 12 reduces excessive, time consuming post driving. The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, in implanting a row of guardrail posts along a surveyed line adjacent a highway, for example, will now be described. Transport vehicle 20 is driven to a point generally adjacent a surveyed line 64 (FIGS. 3 and 5) along which the posts are to be implanted. Line 64 may comprise a plurality of equally spaced post position marks 138 painted or otherwise marked along the shoulder of the road. Normally, guardrail posts are spaced approximately 6 feet 3 inches apart and thus the earth'boring auger and the power hammer are accordingly mounted on carriage 16 such that their center points are also 6 feet 3 inches apart. Thus, when the tip of earth boring bit 136 is positioned over a post position mark 138 (FIG. 5) power hammer 14 is longitudinally centered over a previously bored hole 140.

Although in normal use, a desired post line is first surveyed and marked along a roadway, it will be understood that the fixed spacing between the power hammer and auger equal to the desired spacing between the posts gives this apparatus a built-in postspacing accuracy and the capability of implanting equally spaced posts on a line which is marked only by a longitudinally distant marker with which the vertical plane defined by the center lines of the power hammer and auger may be aligned.

After having positioned the transport vehicle generally adjacent the surveyed post line, the operator positions himself on seat 28 in front of control console 30, the configuration of which is disclosed in FIG. 12. Console 30 includes hydraulic control valves for both positioning and operating the earth boring auger and the power hammer, as well as for driving the transport vehicle itself. This remote drive for the transport vehicle includes conventional power steering and braking means interconnected with the steering and braking means of the transport vehicle, and a hydraulic gear motor driving a power takeoff connected to the vehicle transmission. As illustrated in FIG. 12, engine 22 is adapted to drive hydraulic pumps 24 and 25. Pump 24 is of the double outlet type and includes outlet lines capable of carrying hydraulic fluid flows of 40 and gallons per minute. Hammer tilt cylinder 34, auger tilt cylinder 36, harmner tilt cylinder 56, auger tilt cylinder 60, the two carriage slide cylinders 82, differential slide cylinder 88, carriage rotating motor 70, the transport vehicle steering cylinders and the transport vehicle gear motor drive are all powered through control valves interconnected with the 40 gallon per minute line from pump 24. The hammer raise cylinder 124, the two guide column cylinders 130 and the auger elevation control 137 are powered through control valves connected to the 60 gallon per minute line. As shown in FIG. 12, the two guide column cylinders 130 are alternately adapted to be powered by the 40 gallon per minute line through a separate control valve. During post implantation, when the guide column sleeve is being lowered into the post hole, the downward movement of the sleeve is controlled by operation of the valve on the 40 gallon per minute line. When the sleeve is removed from the hole after the post is in place, the 60 gallon per minute valve is operated to move the guide column more rapidly. Thus it will be understood that relatively fine control over the movement of the guide column is obtained through use of the 40 gallon per minute line, while rapid movement out of the hole is obtained through use of the 60 gallon per minute line. FIG. 12 further discloses the positioning of a brake control foot pedal on the control console 30. This foot pedal is interconnected with the transport vehicle brake system in a conventional manner.

The valves disclosed in FIG. 12 are shown mounted on a control console 30, and it will be understood that these valves are adapted to be manually controlled by the operator seated on seat 28 before the console 30.

Engine 22 also drives pump 25 which rotates the auger bit 136 through a valve mounted on console and adapted to be controlled by the foot of the opera- 101.

The provision of a console 30 from which the operator seated thereat may control the entire operation and movement of the auger, power hammer and the transport vehicle itself allows a line of posts to be rapidly and accurately implanted by a crew comprising the operator and as few as one helper, thereby providing a substantial manpower savings over present post implantation techniques.

After positioning himself at console 30, the operator pivots the power hammer and earth boring auger to the substantially vertical position and rotates the carriage 16 such that the hammer and auger are positioned laterally on the transport vehicle bed as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. The operator positions the transport vehicle such that the tip of auger bit 136 is longitudinally adjacent a post position mark 138 on the surveyed line 64 and then actuates hydraulic cylinders and pistons 82 to move the carriage l6 laterally with respect to line 64 such that the auger tip is centered over the post position mark 138. As has been pointed out previously, the spacing on carriage 16 between the earth boring auger and the power hammer is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent post position marks on the surveyed line and thus, as seen in FIG. 5, when the tip of earth boring auger 136 is disposed over post position mark 138, the power hammer is longitudinally aligned with a previously bored hole 140 rearward with respect to the line of travel of the transport vehicle along the post line 64. It will be understood that transport vehicle movement may not always be directly parallel with post line 64, and thus the power hammer 14 will not necessarily be centered laterally with respect to hole 140 when the auger tip is centered on a post position mark 138. Differential slide cylinder 46 allows the power hammer to be moved laterally with respect to the auger 12 to a position where it is centered over previously bored hole 140. In summary, the earth boring auger and power hammer are aligned longitudinally with respect to post position marks 138 on line 64 by movement of the transport vehicle. The earth boring auger is centered on a post position mark 138 by lateral movement of the carriage l6, and finally, if not already centered, power hammer 14 is centered with respect to a previously bored hole 140 by movement of differential slide cylinder 46.

After having centered the auger l2 and power hammer 14 at the desired post implantation positions on line 64, it will often be found that the auger and power hammer are no longer disposed vertically due to the grade of the road or the sloping of the road shoulder on which the transport vehicle is positioned. To correct this, cylinders and pistons 34 and 56 are adjusted to vertically align the power hammer 14, while cylinders and pistons 36 and 60 are adjusted by the operator to vertically align the auger.

In FIG. 7, the auger and power hammer are shown vertically centered respectively over a post position mark 138 and a previously bored hole 140. Power hammer 14 is illustrated with sleeve 126 connected thereto at sleeve splice connection 128, but it will be understood that, as described above, sleeve 126 is not needed for operation of the instant invention in all situations. Augered hole 140 is shown to be partly filled with earth and rock as might well be the case in poorly graded soil conditions.

In FIG. 8, guide column and interconnected sleeve 126 are shown moved downwardly in hole 140 by hydraulic cylinders and pistons to a point adjacent the bottom of hole 140. Sleeve splice connection 128 is positioned at a point above the ground level so that post 144 can be inserted within guide column 100 without undue lifting, as described hereafter with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 illustrates the dropping of power hammer slug 98 through guide column 100 and sleeve 126 to deepen hole 140. Simultaneously with the dropping of slug 98, the operator urges sleeve 126 downwardly by means of cylinders and pistons 130 such that the sleeve moves into the temporary partial void caused by the impact of the slug on the material at the bottom of hole 140. The hammering and lowering of the sleeve is repeated until sleeve splice connection 128 is at substantially ground level, where, as shown in FIG. 10, door 142 on one side of guide column 100 is opened and post 144 dropped within the guide column. FIG. 9 further discloses that bit 136 of the earth boring auger 12 is rotated downwardly into the ground to form a hole 148 at post position mark 138. Referring again to FIG. 10, post 144 which generally comprises an 8 inch square wood beam falls to the bottom of hole 140, whereupon a metal pad 146 (FIG. 11) is placed on its top end, the door 142 closed, and the power hammer slug 98 raised and dropped to drive the post downwardly until it extends above the ground a desired height, usually 2 feet 4 inches for a conventional highway guardrail. In practice it has been found that under normal conditions the post 144 should be about 4 to 6 inches above grade after it falls into hole and prior to hammering. It

will be understood, however, that this distance will vary depending upon the ground conditions, and could be up to 12 inches or more.

Auger 136 may be maintained in newly bored hole 148 during the hammering of post 144 to assist in stabilizing the transport vehicle bed which at times has a tendency to rock on the pneumatic tires of the transport vehicle and thus change orientation during hammering. When lowered in newly bored hole 148, auger 136 may additionally be used as an anchor point for the power hammer when differential slide cylinder 46 is actuated to move a post laterally in a hole 140 as is sometimes necessary to maintain post alignment during hammering. When the pole is pounded to a desired depth, hydraulic cylinders and pistons 130 are actuated to pull the sleeve 126 out of the hole and up and over the emplaced post 144. If needed, the dirtaround the post may be hand tamped to further stabilize the post.

After raising the auger out of newly formed hole 148 and raising the power hammer such that the bottom of sleeve 126 clears the top of the newly implanted post, the operator drives the transport vehicle ahead, aligns and centers the auger over the next adjacent post position mark, aligns and centers the power hammer over the newly bored hole and repeats the post implantation steps described above. In good ground when sleeve 126 is not needed, the transport vehicle may be moved ahead as soon as the bottom of guide column 100 clears hole 140, thereby producing a savings in operational time.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristicsthereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respect as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of accurately implanting posts on a line comprising:

positioning a transport vehicle having an earth boring means and a power hammer means spacedly mounted thereon such that said earth boring means is centered over a post position mark on said line and said power hammer means is adjacent a hole previously bored on said line;

- laterally adjusting said power hammer means with respect to said earth boring means to center said power hammer means over said previously bored hole;

boring a post hole with said boring means on said position mark;

disposing a post in said previously bored hole;

driving said post downwardly with said power hammer means to seat said post in said previously bored hole.

2. A method of accurately implanting posts on a surveyed line having a plurality of post position marks spaced therealong comprising:

positioning a transport vehicle, having an earth bor ing means and a power hammer means mounted thereon and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent said surveyed line such that said boring means is centered over a first post position mark on said line;

maintaining said boring means thus centered while adjusting said power hammer means laterally of said line to center said power hammer means over a previously bored hole at a second post position mark on said line rearwardly adjacent said first position mark;

boring a post hole with said earth boring means at said first position mark; disposing a post in said previously bored hole and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means;

advancing said transport vehicle such that said earth boring means is centered over a third post position mark on said line forwardly adjacent said first position mark;

maintaining said boring means thus centered while adjusting said power hammer means to center said power hammer means over said newly bored hole at said first post position mark;

boring a post hole with said earth boring means at said third post position mark; and

disposing a post in said newly bored hole at said first i post position mark and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means.

3. A method of accurately implanting posts on a surveyed line having a plurality of post position marks equally spaced therealong comprising the steps of:

positioning a transport vehicle adjacent said sur veyed line, said transport vehicle having an earth boring means and a power hammer means spacedly mounted thereon a fixed distance apart equal to the spacing between said post position marks;

centering said boring means over a first post position mark on said line such that said power hammer is longitudinally adjacent a previously bored hole at the next rearward post position mark on said surveyed line;

adjusting said power hammer means laterally of said line and with respect to said boring means to center said power hammer means over said previously bored hole;

boring a hole in the ground with said boring means at said first position mark;

disposing a post in said previously bored hole and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means;

advancing said transport vehicle to center said boring means over a second post position mark forwardly adjacent said first post position mark, such that said power hammer means is longitudinally adjacent said newly bored hole at said first post position mark;

adjusting said power hammer means laterally of said line and with respect to said boring means to center said power hammer means over said first post position mark;

boring a hole at said second position mark with said boring means; and

disposing a post in said newly bored hole at said first post position mark and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means.

4. The method of claim 3 including the steps of laterally adjusting said posts as said posts are being driven downwardly into said previously bored hole and said newly bored hole.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the boring of said holes and the driving of said posts is performed substantially simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 3 including the step of maintaining said boring means in said hole to anchor said power hammer means during positioning and driving of said posts in said holes.

7. A method of implanting posts on a line having a plurality of equally spaced post positions marked therealong comprising:

positioning a transporter having hole boring means and post implantation means spacedly mounted thereon adjacent said line;

centering said hole boring means over a marked post position on said line;

adjusting said post implantation means laterally of said line and with respect to said hole boring means to center said post implantation means over a previously bored hole at a rearwardly adjacent marked post position on said line;

simultaneously boring a hole at said marked post position and implanting a post in said rearwardly adjacent hole.

8. Apparatus for implanting posts at equally spaced marked points on a line comprising:

a transport vehicle;

earth boring means mounted on said transport vehicle;

power hammer means mounted on said transport vehicle a fixed distance from said boring means equal to the distance between adjacent marked points on said line;

means for positioning said transport vehicle and centering said earth boring means on a first marked point; and

means for positioning said power hammer means laterally of said line to center said power hammer means over a previously bored hole at a second marked point adjacent said first marked point.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including means associated with said power hammer means for both laterally and longitudinally tilting said power hammer means with respect to said previously bored hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power hammer means includes a weight and a post positioning means in which said weight is adapted to reciprocate.

11. Apparatus for implanting posts at marked points along a longitudinal line, comprising:

a transporter positionable adjacent said longitudinal line;

a rotatable carriage on said transporter;

an earth boring means mounted on said carriage;

a power hammer means mounted on said carriage and spaced a fixed longitudinal distance from said boring means; and

hydraulic means adapted to position said power hammer means laterally with respect to said boring means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said earth boring means and said power hammer means are adapted to pivot with respect to said carriage to be maintained in a substantially vertical position during operation.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fixed longitudinal distance between said earth boring means and said power hammer means is substantially equal to the longitudinal distance between adjacent implanted posts.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said earth boring means comprises a vertically elongated tool including a vertically movable and rotatable earth boring bit.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said power hammer means includes a vertically elongated slug adapted to be raised and dropped in a vertically elongated post guide column.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said vertically elongated post guide column includes a vertically elongated sleeve extension removably disposed on the bottom end thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 including a control console mounted on said carriage having a plurality of hydraulic control valves mounted thereon such that an operator positioned at said console may alternately drive and position said transporter and position and operate said earth boring means and said power hammer means.

18. Apparatus for implanting poles at marked points on a surveyed line comprising:

a transporter adapted to be positioned laterally adjacent said surveyed line;

a rotatable carriage on said transporter;

boring means and power hammer means mounted on said rotatable carriage, said carriage adapted to be rotated such that said boring means and power hammer means extend laterally outward from said transporter;

said boring means and said power hammer means spaced apart on said carriage a fixed longitudinal distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent marked points on said surveyed line such that centering said boring means on one marked point causes said power hammer means to be substantially longitudinally aligned with a rearwardly adjacent marked point; and

hydraulic cylinder and piston means for laterally moving said power hammer means to center it over said rearwardly adjacent point.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 including control means adapted to allow said boring means and said power hammer means to be operated simultaneously.

20. Apparatus for implanting posts at equally spaced 50 marked points on a line comprising:

a transport vehicle;

earth boring means mounted on a rotatable carriage on said transport vehicle;

power hammer means mounted on a reciprocable carriage on said rotatable carriage so as to be a distance from said boring means equal to the distance between adjacent marked points on said line;

power means for positioning said transport vehicle and centering said earth boring means on a first marked point; and

power means for separately moving said reciprocable carriage to position said power hammer means laterally of said line and center said power hammer means over a previously bored hole at a second marked point adjacent said first marked point. 

1. A method of accurately implanting posts on a line comprising: positioning a transport vehicle having an earth boring means and a power hammer means spacedly mounted thereon such that said earth boring means is centered over a post position mark on said line and said power hammer means is adjacent a hole previously bored on said line; laterally adjusting said power hammer means with respect to said earth boring means to center said power hammer means over said previously bored hole; boring a post hole with said boring means on said position mark; disposing a post in said previously bored hole; driving said post downwardly with said power hammer means to seat said post in said previously bored hole.
 2. A method of accurately implanting posts on a surveyed line having a plurality of post position marks spaced therealong comprising: positioning a transport vehicle, having an earth boring means and a power hammer means mounted thereon and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent said surveyed line such that said boring means is centered over a first post position mark on said line; maintaining said boring means thus centered while adjusting said power hammer means laterally of said line to center said power hammer means over a previously bored hole at a second post position mark on said line rearwardly adjacent said first position mark; boring a post hole with said earth boring means at said first position mark; disposing a post in said previously bored hole and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means; advancing said transport vehicle such that said earth boring means is centered over a third post position mark on said line forwardly adjacent said first position mark; maintaining said boring means thus centered while adjusting said power hammer means to center said power hammer means over said newly bored hole at said first post position mark; boring a post hole with said earth boring means at said third post position mark; and disposing a post in said newly bored hole at said first post position mark and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means.
 3. A method of accurately implanting posts on a surveyed line having a plurality of post position marks equally spaced therealong comprising the steps of: positioning a transport vehicle adjacent said surveyed line, said transport vehicle having an earth boring means and a power hammer means spacedly mounted thereon a fixed distance apart equal to the spacing between said post position marks; centering said boring means over a first post position mark on said line such that said power hammer is longitudinally adjacent a previously bored hole at the next rearward post position mark on said surveyed line; adjusting said power hammer means laterally of said line and with respect to said boring means to center said power hammer means over said previously bored hole; boring a hole in the ground with said boring means at said first position mark; disposing a post in said previously bored hole and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means; advancing said transport vehicle to center said boring means over a second post position mark forwardly adjacent said first post position mark, such that said power hammer means is longitudinally adjacent said newly bored hole at said first post position mark; adjusting said power hammer means laterally of said line and with respect to said boring means to center said power hammer means over said first post position mark; boring a hole at said second position mark with said boring means; and disposing a post in said newly bored hole at said first post position mark and driving said post downwardly therein with said power hammer means.
 4. The method of claim 3 including the steps of laterally adjusting said posts as said posts are being driven downwardly into said previously bored hole and said newly bored hole.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the boring of said holes and the driving of said posts is performed substantially simultaneously.
 6. The method of claim 3 including the step of maintaining said boring means in said hole to anchor said power hammer means during positioning and driving of said posts in said holes.
 7. A method of implanting posts on a line having a plurality of equally spaced post positions marked therealong comprising: positioning a transporter having hole boring means and post implantation means spacedly mounted thereon adjacent said line; centering said hole boring means over a marked post position on said line; adjusting said post implantation means laterally of said line and with respect to said hole boring means to center said post implantation means over a previously bored hole at a rearwardly adjacent marked post position on said line; simultaneously boring a hole at said marked post position and implanting a post in said rearwardly adjacent hole.
 8. Apparatus for implanting posts at equally spaced marked points on a line comprising: a transport vehicle; earth boring means mounted on said transport vehicle; power hammer means mounted on said transport vehicle a fixed distance from said boring means equal to the distance between adjacent marked points on said line; means for positioning said transport vehicle and centering said earth boring means on a firsT marked point; and means for positioning said power hammer means laterally of said line to center said power hammer means over a previously bored hole at a second marked point adjacent said first marked point.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 including means associated with said power hammer means for both laterally and longitudinally tilting said power hammer means with respect to said previously bored hole.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power hammer means includes a weight and a post positioning means in which said weight is adapted to reciprocate.
 11. Apparatus for implanting posts at marked points along a longitudinal line, comprising: a transporter positionable adjacent said longitudinal line; a rotatable carriage on said transporter; an earth boring means mounted on said carriage; a power hammer means mounted on said carriage and spaced a fixed longitudinal distance from said boring means; and hydraulic means adapted to position said power hammer means laterally with respect to said boring means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said earth boring means and said power hammer means are adapted to pivot with respect to said carriage to be maintained in a substantially vertical position during operation.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fixed longitudinal distance between said earth boring means and said power hammer means is substantially equal to the longitudinal distance between adjacent implanted posts.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said earth boring means comprises a vertically elongated tool including a vertically movable and rotatable earth boring bit.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said power hammer means includes a vertically elongated slug adapted to be raised and dropped in a vertically elongated post guide column.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said vertically elongated post guide column includes a vertically elongated sleeve extension removably disposed on the bottom end thereof.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11 including a control console mounted on said carriage having a plurality of hydraulic control valves mounted thereon such that an operator positioned at said console may alternately drive and position said transporter and position and operate said earth boring means and said power hammer means.
 18. Apparatus for implanting poles at marked points on a surveyed line comprising: a transporter adapted to be positioned laterally adjacent said surveyed line; a rotatable carriage on said transporter; boring means and power hammer means mounted on said rotatable carriage, said carriage adapted to be rotated such that said boring means and power hammer means extend laterally outward from said transporter; said boring means and said power hammer means spaced apart on said carriage a fixed longitudinal distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent marked points on said surveyed line such that centering said boring means on one marked point causes said power hammer means to be substantially longitudinally aligned with a rearwardly adjacent marked point; and hydraulic cylinder and piston means for laterally moving said power hammer means to center it over said rearwardly adjacent point.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 including control means adapted to allow said boring means and said power hammer means to be operated simultaneously.
 20. Apparatus for implanting posts at equally spaced marked points on a line comprising: a transport vehicle; earth boring means mounted on a rotatable carriage on said transport vehicle; power hammer means mounted on a reciprocable carriage on said rotatable carriage so as to be a distance from said boring means equal to the distance between adjacent marked points on said line; power means for positioning said transport vehicle and centering said earth boring means on a first marked point; and power means for separately moving said reciprocable carriage to posItion said power hammer means laterally of said line and center said power hammer means over a previously bored hole at a second marked point adjacent said first marked point. 